Chicago Overturns Foie Gras ban

Chicagoans can feast on foie gras once more. The Chicago City Council just repealed the ban on its sale that it put in place two years ago.

Monica Davey, the Times's Chicago bureau chief, says the ban has been a source of embarrassment for the city and the repeal comes as residents have accused officials of trying to micromanage people's lives, with talk of prohibiting smoking even outside along the lakefront and eliminating transfats from restaurants.

No other American city has prohibited foie gras' sale, but California has passed a law banning it as of 2012.

The Chicago council's vote was 37-6, according to the Chicago Tribune's Web site.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Halfwit]

With most Americans fattening up their own livers with the crap they eat, it would be unfair not to let geese suffer the same fate.

[Halfwit]

Good.

[TishiJo]

The force feeding to produce foie gras by jamming tubes down the throat of the goose and over feeding is inhumane. They hang the geese by their necks on large hooks, then force feed. This should be banned across this country, but this wont happen until people boycott and protest. Cmon people, we're better than this!!! BOYCOTT, PLEASE.

[Pippilangstrumpf]

I live in Chicago and I will not patronize ANY restaurant that serves foie gras.
It just kills me that people make such a fuss over this...like their lives are all going to
be a living hell because they cannot eat their foie gras.
Same goes for the snooty moronic chefs who have their jockies in a twist because
they can't serve it.
Like their restaurants are all going to go bust if it's not on the menu.
I would never want to put money in the pockets of someone who insists on using foie gras.
There are plenty of other good things to eat.
Yes, I will definitely boycott and I hope others do as well.

[miles120]

The government needs to stay out of my bedroom and off my dinner plate. If they really want to do something for animal rights, they can direct their efforts to feed lots.

[Rockwell]

Thank God! The Foie Gras community has been oppressed for too long! Gorge my Brothers! Gorge my Sisters! Gorge yourselves on the fatty pureed livers of force-fed water fowl. Your day is here! Let Freedom ring!


I hate liver.

[Nyland8]

Here, in the NorthEast, the Canada goose has become a plague, their droppings fouling ponds, covering ball fields, bike paths and playgrounds, creating an unsanitary condition for children and adult alike. We can't introduce enough natural predators without people starting to lose their pets, if not their own kids. They are worse than rats.

If they made a good foie gras, I'd feed pate to the homeless.

8

[countryrds]

Our capacity for cruelty is beyond belief. If the Buddhists are correct, then those who participate in this will perhaps have an opportunity to enjoy the same experience.

[miles120]

Well, we are animals after all. I doubt that a wolf laments over the pain that the deer experiences after being eviscerated. Or is concerned about feasting before the prey is dead.

[vippy]

Well, I feel the same about cows when they are hauled off to slaughter and they know it. You should hear their screams, so depressing.

[jubo]

While waiting for the oysters to be opened at the supermarket I noticed the crabs in the aquarium could see those dead and dismembered sitting on ice next to them. You know they are terrified.

A friend told me of the time her parrot, upon seeing her prepare poultry, suddenly exclaimed:
'Oooooh, not Coco!'

I am not sure vegetables do not suffer. What a strange planet.

[amanda85]

Anyone considering eating foie gras should take a good look at how it's made. Trust me, once you've seen what they do to the bird, you don't want to touch that stuff with a ten-foot pole...

And BTW, all meat is murder.

[LiberalBuzz]

I have to agree, the way the birds are treated is just further proof of man's cruel treatment of animals. Veal, foi gras, etc. are all done for reasons that make no sense. NO ONE needs that type of food and if being a "gourmand" demands that sort of thing, then let's try it on you and see how fast you change your mind.

While there are indeed more important things for city councils to do, there is nothing wrong with this sort of ban.

It's purely cruel and inhumane treatment and every step we make toward eradicating this sort of cruelty is a step towards a better civilization. I keep hoping that some day meat can be grown without the animal's involvement. We can grow skin without a human so that should be around the corner someday.

BESIDES it WILL help the environment as well.

Shame on Chicago caving to a few people "having to have this type of food".

Embarrassment my ass.

[vandegrasse]

Hans doesn't like foie gras. He only likes German things!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAeBcyJIz20

[loki]

Who cares if someone wants to get that gross stuff. Fatty goose livers?

[amanda85]

"Who cares if someone wants to get that gross stuff."

The geese?

[ChiGuy]

My IDIOTIC, CORRUPT (The developer's best friend) embarrassment of an Alderman, Joe Moore (49th Ward), was the one that first introduced the ban and managed to sneak it through the City Council. And there he was this morning, the lone jackass voice, braying in the chamber, still fighting to retain the law.

I am all for the fair treatment of animals, but with the s**t going on in his ward, the fact that THIS is the ONLY legislation he has shepherded through the Council in 10 years, is reprehensible.

We ALMOST got him out last year. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for just one more term before we can send the SOB packing. And we will.

[vandegrasse]

While eating your foie gras check this interesting vid out

Very creative

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tbpyQkfIg7o

[fishsandwichesr2good]

Good. Turns out I can't eat polar bear now so this is good news.

[BadCompany]

Isn't foie gras a little too French for your ilk?

[ADN]

I totally know what you mean...

[hilaritee]

want to lose your appetite? watch a video of geese being force fed in order to fatten their livers for foie gras. remember the move 'Seven', with the man fed to death to illustrate gluttony? that is what they do to those geese. cruel and disgusting

[jubo]

'Birdie Num-Num'

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

Not just foie gras. Ever think about how we get veal? It isn't pretty.

[BadCompany]

Fatty goose livers.
I can't imagine what makes a person want to eat anything as vile as that even if they don't know about the cruelty.
Seems like toxic, artery-clogging animal guts would be unhealthy to eat.
I hope so.

[ENK727]

I know and that photo just looks so appetizing!! yuck